Arizona Restaurant Week, Fall Edition September 15-24

By Lynette Carrington

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Arizona Restaurant Week, Fall Edition September 15-24

“A Decade of Delicious” will be highlighted Statewide

Twice during the year, The Arizona Restaurant Association holds court statewide with Arizona Restaurant Week. The fall edition will be ushered in with (hopefully) temperatures that are a bit cooler and dining deals that are divine and celebrate the flavors of the fall season. This year marks the 10th anniversary of this food-focused event that has developed into a 10-day long gastronomic jubilee, with restaurants statewide offering their special ARW menus brimming with the bounty of the season’s harvest.

To celebrate 10 years of this spectacular event this year, the Arizona Restaurant Association is giving diners a chance to win big during Fall ARW with an exciting online contest featuring 10 experiential prizes that foodie and travel lovers will eat up. To view a list of participating restaurants and corresponding prix fixe menus, visit www.arizonarestaurantweek.com.

To get a little taste of what the 10th Anniversary of Arizona Restaurant Week will have to offer, Scottsdale.com was invited to take part in the preview tasting at The Herb Box, Market Street Kitchen and Fleming’s, all located in Scottsdale’s DC Ranch.

The Herb Box

Our first stop for cocktails and appetizers was The Herb Box. I simply could not get enough of the Korean fried cauliflower which is typically on the restaurant’s regular menu. The healthy nosh is served with quinoa and a Korean hot pepper sauce, although I didn’t personally think it was too spicy. Another unique dish was the smoked trout beignets. During Arizona Restaurant Week, you’ll enjoy this entrée with cornichons and roasted red pepper aioli.

Another healthy surprise was the kale, corn and sweet onion pakora. The way it was served, several of us at the table thought this dish would be an incredible alternative to popcorn at a movie theater. iPic are you listening? This dish included a sweet and slightly spicy serrano glaze with a vegan yellow pepper aioli. Served as just the food, it is both gluten-free and vegan. Wow, this is one tasty dish you won’t want to miss. The premiere cocktail was the Ruby Red Slipper a refreshing concoction of Deep Eddy Grapefruit Vodka, Elderflower liqueur and pink grapefruit juice. The Herb Box at DC Ranch is located at 20707 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale. Visit www.theherbbox.com for more information.

Market Street Kitchen

Next, we hoofed it on over to Market Street Kitchen for some entrée offerings. First was the prime rib of rotisserie pork chop that included a thoughtfully prepared savory apple bread pudding, heirloom carrots and a cardamom pork demi-glace that was perfection. I’m convinced that nobody does a savory bread pudding like Market Street Kitchen. Bravo.

Next was an entirely tantalizing rotisserie fried chicken that boasted cheddar smashed red potatoes, baby squash and sage and sausage gravy. Although it was called rotisserie chicken, it was definitely on a plane of existence all its own – simply outstanding! We also tried the ling cod with ratatouille Napoleon and a garden herb beurre blanc.

I also have to give a shout out to one menu item that I order whenever I visit Market Street Kitchen. The firecracker shrimp boast tender, succulent and sizeable shrimp with a sweet heat aioli. You can share this as an appetizer, but I usually have this as a meal. Market Street Kitchen at DC Ranch is located at 20825 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale. Visit www.marketstreetkitchen.com for additional information.

Fleming’s

The last visit for our media preview of Arizona Restaurant Week was Fleming’s. You may only think of Fleming’s as being known for its steak, but they can really orchestrate outstanding desserts, too.

Dessert included Fleming’s iconic turtle pie, cheesecake and carrot cake. I am not typically a huge fan of cake, but I flipped for all three of these offerings, particularly the walnut turtle pie. This is true decadence on a plate and includes chocolate and walnuts baked into a chocolate pie crust and topped with Fleming’s own sinful house made caramel. Fleming’s at DC Ranch is located at 20753 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale.com. Visit www.flemingssteakhouse.com for more information.

The 2017 Fall Arizona Restaurant Week will kick off 10 days of dining, from September 15th through the 24th, with nearly 200 participating restaurants showcasing three-course prix-fixe meals for just $33 or $44 per person. In addition to Fall ARW, the Arizona Restaurant Association hosts Spring ARW in May and Arizona Breakfast Weekend in July, and is proud to be supported by its sponsors: Young’s Market Company, Sanderson Lincoln, Sanderson Ford, Open Table, the Arizona Office of Tourism, and American Express.

Arizona Restaurant Association president and CEO Steve Chucri said, “Arizona Restaurant Week gives Valley diners a unique opportunity to try some of the state’s finest and most popular restaurants featuring special menus designed to let their culinary staff shine. We are proud to have contributed to the interest, development and support of the local culinary scene for the past 10 years — and counting.”

The most edible time of the year, Fall Arizona Restaurant Week, is making its return Friday, September 15 through Sunday, September 24, sending diners on a 10-day tasting tour of the state. Participating restaurants are not only known for their exceptional cuisine, they also spare no expense to give diners an extraordinary culinary experience. One of Arizona Restaurant Week’s goals is to position Arizona as one of the top culinary destinations in the nation by increasing awareness of the more than 8,500 dining opportunities available as well as stimulate business and revenue for restaurants throughout the state. Arizona Restaurant Week is produced by the Arizona Restaurant Association.

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